Platner and The Purity Trap
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@mastodonmigration It's a "Purity trap" to hold sex pests accountable? Are you being serious here?
Al Franken had six accusers. Platner has them coming out of the woodwork. Comparing that to the Swift Boat attack on John Kerry is massively disingenuous as that was literally made the fuck up. The claims against Franken, Platner and yes Joe are real.
If we cannot nominate people who at the very fucking least do not support genocide and abuse women what the fuck are we even doing?
As expressed in the thread, the subject vulnerability can range from completely fabricated to absolutely true. It can also be something in-between with exaggerated elements.
The point is the tactic is to establish the vulnerability as absolutely disqualifying through concerted media coverage.
You may think this is entirely appropriate and justified given the nature of the vulnerability. Nevertheless, there is a political tactic in play.
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As expressed in the thread, the subject vulnerability can range from completely fabricated to absolutely true. It can also be something in-between with exaggerated elements.
The point is the tactic is to establish the vulnerability as absolutely disqualifying through concerted media coverage.
You may think this is entirely appropriate and justified given the nature of the vulnerability. Nevertheless, there is a political tactic in play.
@mastodonmigration Nominate a sex pest and I will fucking work to block them from office. Spent my entire time as chair driving sex pests out of WA state politics.
A good read: https://truthout.org/articles/why-misogynists-make-great-informants/
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As expressed in the thread, the subject vulnerability can range from completely fabricated to absolutely true. It can also be something in-between with exaggerated elements.
The point is the tactic is to establish the vulnerability as absolutely disqualifying through concerted media coverage.
You may think this is entirely appropriate and justified given the nature of the vulnerability. Nevertheless, there is a political tactic in play.
Would also call your attention to the part about collapsing the political stakes. The success of the purity trap in disqualifying Biden for many supporters of the people in Gaza, helped Trump win, which resulted in many more of the people they intended to support dying. So, things are not always so black and white simple.
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Would also call your attention to the part about collapsing the political stakes. The success of the purity trap in disqualifying Biden for many supporters of the people in Gaza, helped Trump win, which resulted in many more of the people they intended to support dying. So, things are not always so black and white simple.
@mastodonmigration That's an assertion without evidence. Joe had no intention of slowing down. We don't' know about Kamala. Regardless, voting for genocide is wrong. Voting for sexual abusers is wrong. Being unclear about who we are and what we represent destroys our movement. This can be seen in elections ever since Clinton in the 90s.
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@mastodonmigration That's an assertion without evidence. Joe had no intention of slowing down. We don't' know about Kamala. Regardless, voting for genocide is wrong. Voting for sexual abusers is wrong. Being unclear about who we are and what we represent destroys our movement. This can be seen in elections ever since Clinton in the 90s.
The intention here is not to render a determination on any of the cases, but rather to call out a specific type of deliberate political information operation tactic, so that we recognize it when we see it.
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@TagYourToe @mastodonmigration Says the bot hired by the Israel lobby who opened an account three days ago... when you point a finger at another, you point three at yourself, sadly!
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@TagYourToe @mastodonmigration Says the bot hired by the Israel lobby who opened an account three days ago... when you point a finger at another, you point three at yourself, sadly!
@TagYourToe @mastodonmigration there is an old Aryan saying for this from the Vedic era: "He who digs a pit for another will fall into that pit himself."
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@TagYourToe @mastodonmigration there is an old Aryan saying for this from the Vedic era: "He who digs a pit for another will fall into that pit himself."
@TagYourToe @mastodonmigration @TagYourToe are you out of Tel Aviv or a low cost South Asian being exploited by Jews, or both? Or AI? I am legit curious!
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Purity Trap (cont)
The most crucial thing about purity traps is that they collapse the political stakes. There may be huge consequences in the election, like in this case, winning a majority in the US Senate. But, because we are caught in a purity trap, what is literally an existential issue for democracy in this country takes a back seat to these accusations.
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@mastodonmigration It's also effective - even if the controversies around platner *shouldn't* be disqualifying, that they have come up and at least *seem* legitimate (not entirely fabricated) means his odds of winning have dropped, and more importantly - his odds of winning the *actual election* (rather than the primary) are also dramatically worse - which is why the dems likes to use this tactic against their own party - even if he wins the primary, he's now a 'tainted' candidate for senate >
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@mastodonmigration It's also effective - even if the controversies around platner *shouldn't* be disqualifying, that they have come up and at least *seem* legitimate (not entirely fabricated) means his odds of winning have dropped, and more importantly - his odds of winning the *actual election* (rather than the primary) are also dramatically worse - which is why the dems likes to use this tactic against their own party - even if he wins the primary, he's now a 'tainted' candidate for senate >
@mastodonmigration So, tactically - it is likely best to run some other dem, even if their policies are worse, because platner is likely to lose to a fucking nazi now.
(No matter what you think of the controversies or him as a person/politician.) -
Platner and The Purity Trap
Feel like these last few days in Maine can be a teachable moment. What we are seeing play out is political information warfare that could be branded a "purity trap".
Purity trap tactics have their roots in the swift boating of John Kerry and the destruction of Al Franken. Purity traps were run effectively against 'Genocide' Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
So, let's talk about 'purity traps'...
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@mastodonmigration Thank-you! That is exactly what I have been saying. I’m a lifelong Democrat, not just because, but because I firmly believe that the Democratic Party is the best hope most Americans have at making a better life for themselves and everyone else. Will Rogers said it best in the 1930’s, “I’m not a member of any organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” His humorous quip there was poignant and somewhat holds true today, but I think in a different way. The 1930s Democratic coalition was much broader and less centralized. Today’s party tries to centralize things, like these ridiculous purity tests, but most Democrats bristle at that concept. We can be a big tent. We can disagree on certain things, so long as we keep our focus on the big picture. I’m not a Mainer, but I hope Platner beats the crap out of Susan Collins and her political machine.
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@mastodonmigration Thank-you! That is exactly what I have been saying. I’m a lifelong Democrat, not just because, but because I firmly believe that the Democratic Party is the best hope most Americans have at making a better life for themselves and everyone else. Will Rogers said it best in the 1930’s, “I’m not a member of any organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” His humorous quip there was poignant and somewhat holds true today, but I think in a different way. The 1930s Democratic coalition was much broader and less centralized. Today’s party tries to centralize things, like these ridiculous purity tests, but most Democrats bristle at that concept. We can be a big tent. We can disagree on certain things, so long as we keep our focus on the big picture. I’m not a Mainer, but I hope Platner beats the crap out of Susan Collins and her political machine.
Really appreciate your perspective. Had not thought about how corosive the chaotic fallout from purity tactics is to party identity and cohesion. Lots to unpack here.
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Really appreciate your perspective. Had not thought about how corosive the chaotic fallout from purity tactics is to party identity and cohesion. Lots to unpack here.
@mastodonmigration There is a lot to unpack. Republicans have a centralized structure, which focuses on whichever white, straight, rich, Christian man is in power. Democrats, traditionally, focused on what we have in common, things like a living wage, human rights, equal rights, peace, affordability. We used to accept the fact that we all didn’t think in lock step with each other, but accepted our differences as part of our diversity. In recent years, party leadership has tried to force us into a Republican model, whereby we all think the same way, use the same pronouns, embrace the same economic structures, etc. Purity tests are the result of that dogmatic crap. Let us, please, let people be people for who they are, where they are and focus on the most important task, which is evicting these fascist pigs from our existence.
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Platner and The Purity Trap
Feel like these last few days in Maine can be a teachable moment. What we are seeing play out is political information warfare that could be branded a "purity trap".
Purity trap tactics have their roots in the swift boating of John Kerry and the destruction of Al Franken. Purity traps were run effectively against 'Genocide' Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
So, let's talk about 'purity traps'...
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@mastodonmigration The Purity Trap is enabled primarily by the Purity Ponies, single-issue persons who will spend hours arguing with you that issue X totally disqualifies a politician. For example Kamala didn't come out immediately saying that Jews were Nazis exterminating Palestinians so that totally disqualified Kamala from being President. Despite the multitude of other reasons she would have been a better President than the orange underwear skidmark. #PurityPony #fail #politics
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@mastodonmigration That's an assertion without evidence. Joe had no intention of slowing down. We don't' know about Kamala. Regardless, voting for genocide is wrong. Voting for sexual abusers is wrong. Being unclear about who we are and what we represent destroys our movement. This can be seen in elections ever since Clinton in the 90s.
@reflex @mastodonmigration Demanding purity of any person in politics is essentially handing the election to an even worse opponent. Purity ponies elect tyrants. Purity ponies elected Donald J. Trump not once, but twice, by refusing to vote for candidates who were not pure and perfect. Uhm. They crucified the only perfect human being. Ain't been another one of them since. Just sayin'.
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Platner and The Purity Trap
Feel like these last few days in Maine can be a teachable moment. What we are seeing play out is political information warfare that could be branded a "purity trap".
Purity trap tactics have their roots in the swift boating of John Kerry and the destruction of Al Franken. Purity traps were run effectively against 'Genocide' Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
So, let's talk about 'purity traps'...
1/
This sounds made up ngl
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The intention here is not to render a determination on any of the cases, but rather to call out a specific type of deliberate political information operation tactic, so that we recognize it when we see it.
@mastodonmigration The intention here is to believe women and take their humanity as seriously as we take our own.
An 'op' that reveals true information about a person that reflects poorly on their comparison is an 'op' I do not care about, I care about the information, the person and their victims.
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@reflex @mastodonmigration Demanding purity of any person in politics is essentially handing the election to an even worse opponent. Purity ponies elect tyrants. Purity ponies elected Donald J. Trump not once, but twice, by refusing to vote for candidates who were not pure and perfect. Uhm. They crucified the only perfect human being. Ain't been another one of them since. Just sayin'.
@badtux @mastodonmigration If we vote in people who are a bit racist, sexist, transphobic, etc all we have accomplished is making our government more racist, sexist, transphobic, etc. To win elections.
In other words, we aren't actually the better alternative. We are conceding that sexism, racism, transphobia, etc are valid tactics to gain power. Just like the fascists.
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@mastodonmigration The intention here is to believe women and take their humanity as seriously as we take our own.
An 'op' that reveals true information about a person that reflects poorly on their comparison is an 'op' I do not care about, I care about the information, the person and their victims.
Understood. You think that the tactic is justified given the nature of the vulnerability.
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@FIAR_Light @mastodonmigration And then they blamed 'the left' for Kamala's loss. We told them what to do, we told them to end this genocide and US support for an Apartheid state. They refused and then blamed the consequences of that choice on the people with principles.
